Noob tries to Bonsai : How do I start? (Cherry Blossoms)

NoobKing

Seedling
Messages
12
Reaction score
8
Location
Hypixel
USDA Zone
6a
Well, get yourself to learning! 😁
Plants are like people: some you just connect with and everything goes smoothly, others you have to put more effort into understanding. Get in there and get your hands dirty.

Your best bet is to look up the basic beginner videos, look for some books, learn the basic concepts first. If you're still learning plants in general, bonsai style peppers - called bonchi - are a fun, fast way to get your head wrapped around both at once. Bonus: delicious fresh food as you learn!
I'll make sure to check out these "Bonchi" on YouTube, I remember seeing one a while back on a reddit post, where someone made a habanero pepper Bonchi, and it looked pretty cool
 

ShadyStump

Imperial Masterpiece
Messages
5,892
Reaction score
9,744
Location
Southern Colorado, USA
USDA Zone
6a
I'll make sure to check out these "Bonchi" on YouTube, I remember seeing one a while back on a reddit post, where someone made a habanero pepper Bonchi, and it looked pretty cool
I've seen them in stores before as house plants, but it's been a while.
There are plenty of things to learn about peppers alone, but if you're going to try with the regular garden peppers you should know that they usually only live a few years. There are others that can live decades, but they're harder to find. Point is, if you can keep a regular garden variety pepper alive for a few years, especially with the added winter care they can need, then you're in great shape for bonsai.

BTW, where in the world are you? Makes all the difference in what your next steps are, unless you really think you're going to grow bonsai in Minecraft, Mr Hypixel. 😏
It's just really tough to grow in winter, so even a continent and your USDA growing zone will do.
 

eugenev2

Shohin
Messages
295
Reaction score
207
Location
Johannesburg, South Africa
USDA Zone
9b
I'll make sure to check them out, actually good YouTube channels are gems when it comes to learning things, so I really apreciate it. However if I may ask, do you know which one/two would be more specific for my needs or a video that you think is like really good? I still plan on growing a cherry tree (decided on a Yoshino Cherry Tree) so maybe some video on like pruning/disease?
A little disclaimer, I'm a big fan of Peter Chan's videos (Herons Bonsai) as they are aimed at beginners, although i know there are many on the forum that aren't necessarily a fan of his, his information is solid and simplified for easy access, so i would suggest to have a look at them, there are many topics covering pruning, repotting, different maintenance at different times of the year, watering and soil to use. But he has been posting for the last 6 years, so there are literally hundreds of videos. But once you have a number of these under your belt, you can move on to the more complicated videos and artist.
I don't know of a specific video for the variant you want to look into, but since they are part of the prunus family i think the below might apply.

Herons Bonsai

Bonsai Empire
 
Last edited:

Tums

Shohin
Messages
388
Reaction score
376
Location
Woburn, MA, USA
USDA Zone
6a
I plan on focusing on this one plant, and I have decided (unless someone provides me with something better) on growing a "Yoshino Cherry Tree" (https://toadstoolseeds.com/product/5-yoshino-cherry-tree-seeds/). I have a lot of room in my backyard to so room is not an issue, and I appreciate the acknoledgement! I really like how the trees look and I think Bonsais are really cool so I am going to be pretty engaged throughout the experience.
If you're not particularly attached to the process of growing from seed, you can skip ahead a few years by buying starter plants. This is to shorten the amount of time you're just growing trees in pots and get a bit closer to when you can actually apply bonsai techniques. For example, I put in one order with this website before and was pretty happy with what I got. https://treeplugsrus.com/products/yoshino-cherry

These are good sources for tree/shrub seeds:
 

NoobKing

Seedling
Messages
12
Reaction score
8
Location
Hypixel
USDA Zone
6a
I've seen them in stores before as house plants, but it's been a while.
There are plenty of things to learn about peppers alone, but if you're going to try with the regular garden peppers you should know that they usually only live a few years. There are others that can live decades, but they're harder to find. Point is, if you can keep a regular garden variety pepper alive for a few years, especially with the added winter care they can need, then you're in great shape for bonsai.

BTW, where in the world are you? Makes all the difference in what your next steps are, unless you really think you're going to grow bonsai in Minecraft, Mr Hypixel. 😏
It's just really tough to grow in winter, so even a continent and your USDA growing zone will do.
Just updated my Plant Hardiness zone, with it being "6a", so it's pretty cold up here on the skyblock island over here in Hypixel. Thanks for the peppers tip, I might end up growing 2 Bonsais instead of one (one Bonchi and one Bonsai), cause the idea of a small pepper tree sounds pretty cool
 

NoobKing

Seedling
Messages
12
Reaction score
8
Location
Hypixel
USDA Zone
6a
A little disclaimer, I'm a big fan of Peter Chan's videos (Herons Bonsai) as they are aimed at beginners, although i know there are many on the forum that aren't necessarily a fan of his, his information is solid and simplified for easy access, so i would suggest to have a look at them, there are many topics covering pruning, repotting, different maintenance at different times of the year, watering and soil to use. But he has been posting for the last 6 years, so there are literally hundreds of videos. But once you have a number of these under your belt, you can move on to the more complicated videos and artist.
I don't know of a specific video for the variant you want to look into, but since they are part of the prunus family i think the below might apply.

Herons Bonsai

Bonsai Empire
Thank you! These videos and his channel will be a lot of help, time to start binge watching and taking notes lol.
 

NoobKing

Seedling
Messages
12
Reaction score
8
Location
Hypixel
USDA Zone
6a
If you're not particularly attached to the process of growing from seed, you can skip ahead a few years by buying starter plants. This is to shorten the amount of time you're just growing trees in pots and get a bit closer to when you can actually apply bonsai techniques. For example, I put in one order with this website before and was pretty happy with what I got. https://treeplugsrus.com/products/yoshino-cherry

These are good sources for tree/shrub seeds:
I really apreciate the comment as you are giving me very valuable resources to find seeds (that are really reliable), (might buy from Sheffields) however I do have one question. The link you sent from "treeplugsrus" is a seedling like a seed? is it like skipping the whole seed stage or what? Clarification would be greatly appreciated!
 

Tums

Shohin
Messages
388
Reaction score
376
Location
Woburn, MA, USA
USDA Zone
6a
I really apreciate the comment as you are giving me very valuable resources to find seeds (that are really reliable), (might buy from Sheffields) however I do have one question. The link you sent from "treeplugsrus" is a seedling like a seed? is it like skipping the whole seed stage or what? Clarification would be greatly appreciated!
Yes, a "plug" is a nursery industry term for a small plant, roughly speaking. The ones I got this spring were around a foot tall which is a year or two of growing.
 
Top Bottom